India Tourism Information

Kerala Tourism and UNESCO have jointly conceived a ‘Spice Route' project, on the lines of the famed trans-Asian ‘Silk Route' through which inter-continental trade was carried for centuries, to throw open more opportunities in tourism, historical research and spice trade.

UNESCO, which had been impressed with the Muziris Heritage project, had asked Kerala Tourism to chalk out a plan for developing the Spice Route. Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac had allocated Rs.5 crore in the 2011-12 State budget for the preliminary activities of the project.

Director of Tourism M. Shivasankar met ambassadors of countries relating to spice route in New Delhi on March 4 at the initiative of UNESCO.

Apart from attracting more tourists to unexplored sites in Kerala, the project is expected to perk up spice trade — especially in cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, nutmeg and tamarind — across the State.

The authorities want to rope in UNESCO to get the heritage tag for the ‘Spice Route' as it is essentially a journey through places connected with the State's ancient trade links with the West. The project envisages linking the State, from Thriuvananthapuram to Kasaragod, through the spice route. Spice Route will be linked to the Muziris Heritage Project, focusing on the ancient port town of Kodungalloor and nearby areas in Central Kerala, which were the epicentre of India's spice trade with the West Asia and Europe. In addition to Muziris, Thiruvananthapuram, Anchuthengu, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Ponnani, Panthalayani, Parapanangadi, Beypore, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur and Bekal will be covered.

Of the 70 spices grown globally, 47 are cultivated in India according to the International Organisation for Standardisation. India is still considered the “Home of Spices” because of the quality of the fare the country, especially Kerala, produces. Spices are strewn all over Kerala's history. Alappuzha and Idukki take the top slots. Tourist statistics say over 80 per cent of tourists arriving in the two districts stay in spice plantations.


http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/07/stories/2011030751300200.htm